Kaien had just come down from the adrenaline rush of a near-death crisis. As his body finally relaxed, a crushing wave of exhaustion swept over him—both physical and mental.
If he hadn't realized in time that the "Kumogakure" ninja in front of him was actually Jiraiya in disguise, he might've activated his Sharingan on the spot.
In a true life-or-death moment, there was no point in hiding any cards. The only thing he should do was eliminate the threat as fast as possible.
Thankfully, things hadn't escalated to that point.
If he hadn't pulled a chakra nature from the lottery, he really might have been drained dry by a single Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique.
So Kaien let himself collapse to the side, ready to sit back and watch Namikaze Minato take over.
"Haha! That's it, kid? One Great Fireball and you're already done? How weak!"
The man in the Kumogakure disguise laughed more brazenly than ever.
One of the brats was already down. Taking care of the other should be easy.
Whatever was going through Jiraiya's mind, Minato didn't know. But in his eyes, the man before him looked exactly like a predator closing in on its prey.
I'll use his arrogance to strike back!
Seeing Kaien panting heavily from chakra depletion, Minato quickly decided not to waste any more time.
He only had enough chakra left to fire off one more Great Fireball.
And based on what they'd observed, the technique would be blocked by the enemy's Earth Style. So instead of aiming to win, Minato would use it to call for help.
Having made his decision, Minato started circling around "Jiraiya," gripping his last handful of shuriken.
He only had one set left—he needed to make them count.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
After a quick sprint, Minato suddenly stopped and hurled a shuriken toward the enemy's back.
It struck with deadly precision... only to hit a puff of smoke.
The Kumogakure figure vanished, replaced by a chunk of wood.
Body Replacement Technique!
Minato's heart dropped. Not only had he missed, he had also lost sight of the enemy.
"Minato, behind you!" Kaien shouted.
"?! Crap—!"
Before he could react, Minato was struck and sent flying, landing hard beside Kaien.
Kaien immediately rushed to help him up.
"You okay, Minato?"
"Cough... I'm fine. That guy wasn't really trying to hurt me."
"Give it up, you brats. The gap between us is too wide—you never stood a chance! Once I bring you back to Kumogakure, I'll be a hero!"
The Kumogakure version of Jiraiya was now grinning like a wolf who'd just caught Little Red Riding Hood.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
While he was still talking, Minato quickly formed hand seals and fired another Great Fireball, seemingly aimed at Jiraiya.
Expecting it, Jiraiya immediately summoned an Earth-Style Wall to defend himself.
But that was exactly what Minato wanted.
The massive fireball didn't strike the enemy—it soared into the sky and exploded midair, scattering sparks in all directions.
It was a signal. A call for backup.
As the flames died down, Minato brandished a shuriken and stood shoulder to shoulder with Kaien, facing the "Jiraiya" who now stepped out from behind his earthen wall.
"Hey, Kumogakure guy! Take me, not him! I'm a genius from the Uchiha clan. I'm worth a lot more than that guy next to me."
"You won't get anything from him even if you take him. But if it's just me, I'll cooperate."
"Kaien..." Minato's expression turned anxious when he heard that.
He knew about the Uchiha's unique kekkei genkai—the Sharingan.
If the enemy took Kaien seriously...
He might never see him again.
Damn it, I need more power!
Minato clenched his fists so hard his nails dug into his palms. He didn't even feel it.
This helplessness—this inability to protect what he cherished—was something he never wanted to feel again.
"You really think I'd listen to you?" the Kumogakure figure mocked. "I've got the power to take both of you."
He took a step forward. His large frame loomed ominously, casting a long shadow over them both. The pressure was suffocating.
Minato's nerves were wound tight. When he could no longer take it, he suddenly grabbed Kaien's arm, planning to throw him aside—anything to buy a chance to escape.
But before he could act, Kaien stopped him and looked over with a calm smile.
"Minato, I already figured out what you were planning."
"So how about you be the one to run? There are no cowards in the Uchiha clan."
Kaien focused his chakra into his palm, then flung Minato forcefully into the tall grass nearby.
Then, as if accepting fate, he closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, his delicate face was filled with a calm resolve, ready to die.
"Take me. I'm the one you want, right? Kumogakure bastard."
...
Just as the massive hand was about to reach his eyes—those gleaming, pitch-black orbs—another hand shot out and blocked it.
Pale, slender, and perfectly calm.
"That's enough, Jiraiya."
A man appeared out of nowhere, his voice equally sudden.
His snake-like features and the dangling tomoe earrings gave him a mysterious air—but the limp, blond kid in his hand kind of ruined the mood.
Minato stared, utterly confused. He still hadn't realized this had all been a test.
Kaien, on the other hand, simply put on a confused face. He already knew—but he had to play dumb.
At Jiraiya's signal, the transformation technique was finally lifted.
With his level of mastery, there was no way a couple of first-year academy kids would've seen through his disguise.
"Huh? What's going on?" Minato blinked. One moment they were fighting for their lives—the next, the enemy was gone.
To say he was dumbfounded would be an understatement.
He never would've guessed his future mentor would test him like this.
...
"So, that's the story. You two have some serious fire in your hearts. Minato, want to be my student?"
Jiraiya grinned, acting all easy-going.
"You sure have strange tastes, Jiraiya-sama," Kaien said flatly. "We're just kids, and yet you pull a stunt like that? No wonder I've heard rumors about your... peeping habits."
He might not be able to beat Jiraiya, but that didn't mean he couldn't mess with him.
You want Minato as a student?
Gotta make it harder for you!
"Huh? Peeping?"
Sure enough, the second Kaien mentioned that, Minato's expression shifted. Whatever interest he had was clearly wavering now.
"Hey, hey! Uchiha brat, don't spout nonsense! That's slander!"
"Let the villagers of Konoha decide what's true or false."
Kaien threw that out like it was nothing, but it hit hard. Jiraiya deflated, then leaned over to whisper in his ear.
"Hey, how about this—I'll give you a C-rank jutsu if you keep quiet about that."
"Nope. I'm telling Minato you tried to bribe me. Let's see how eager he is to be your student after that."
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo